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I’d like to introduce the idea of having two maxes. Most people are aware of what’s called the “absolute max”. This is the absolute maximum weight one can lift no matter how much their technique breaks down in the process. If you have to turn your squat into a good morning to grind out a lift or finish a deadlift with a dangerously rounded back, you’ve completed the lift but your form has abandoned you. Next you have what I call your “technical max”. Your technical max is the heaviest weight you can lift without having a breakdown in form. Why is this important? Because if you can train with good technique you can beat yourself up less. If your form degrades because your stronger muscle groups have to take over, you are only cheating your lagging muscle groups of the work they need. If you have weak quads and you always train above your technical max, and your back always takes over when your legs can’t stay under the weight and straighten out, then your legs will never get stronger. Your technique will always stay poor! This situation smacks of skinniness. Don’t be skinny. Fix your technique and get jacked. Please. Or don’t. You decide.

So now we can put together a simple model for training. Train as hard as you like, but not above your technical max. This goes for reps as well as singles. If your technical max is not a high percentage of your absolute max, then you will need to lift a greater volume and supplement your core lifts with additional exercises to give those lagging muscle groups a chance to work hard and catch up. This means several sets of reps without technique breakdown. But as discussed earlier, when you do work as hard as you can but keep good technique your technique will improve and your body will recover and adapt faster. Before you know it your technical max will be closing in on your absolute max—and then you can truly train heavy. And your body will be conditioned to reap the rewards from doing it frequently!